Dual electrical and fluidic connector assembly

ABSTRACT

A quick-connect connector for connecting a plurality of fluid and electrical conductors. In combination with an electrical connector of the type having a male and female member each of which includes an insert having a plurality of passages of a given diameter and wherein one of said inserts includes male electrical contact members disposed in the passages of the inserts and female electrical contact members disposed in the passages of the other insert for connecting a plurality of noncommunicating electrical conductors and predetermined circuit relationship, the improvement wherein one of the inserts is comprised of a resilient material and wherein at least one duct is disposed in one of the passages of the other insert, the duct having an end portion with a boss thereon which extends beyond the insert, the diameter of the boss being greater than the diameter of the passage in said resilient insert so that when the male and female members are in mated relationship, the boss on the duct is in pressurized contact with the wall of the passage of the resilient insert to form a fluidtight seal therebetween whereby said connector connects in a predetermined relationship electrical and fluid conductors.

United States Patent [72] inventors Edward Kokalas;

Edward S. Yablonski, both of Sidney, N.Y. [211 App]. No. 23,124 [22]Filed Mar. 27, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971 [73] Assignee The BendixCorporation [54] DUAL ELECTRICAL AND FLUlDlC CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY 4Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] 0.8. CI 339/16 R, 339/59 M [51] Int. Cl non 3/04 [50] FieldofScarch339/15, 16, 59, 60, 61, 45, 46; 174/47; 285/235 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,345,044 3/1944 Hall 285/235 X 2,760,175 8/1956Dunn.... 339/94 3,375,324 3/1968 Miller 174/1015 Primary ExaminerRichardE. Moore Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Hafer ArrorneysRaymond .I. Eiflerand Flame, Arnes, Hartz, Smith and Thompson ABSTRACT: A quick-connectconnector for connecting a plurality of fluid and electrical conductors.in combination with an electrical connector of the type having a maleand female member each of which includes an insert having a plurality ofpassages of a given diameter and wherein one of said inserts includesmale electrical contact members disposed in the passages of the insertsand female electrical contact members disposed in the passages of theother insert for connecting a plurality of noncommunicating electricalconductors and predetermined circuit relationship, the improvementwherein one of the inserts is comprised of a resilient material andwherein at least one duct is disposed in one of the passages of theother insert, the duct having an end portion with a boss thereon whichextends beyond the insert, the diameter of the boss being greater thanthe diameter of the passage in said resilient insert so that when themale and female members are in mated relationship, the boss on the ductis in pressurized contact with the wall of the passage of the resilientinsert to form a fluidtight seal therebetween whereby said connectorconnects in a predetermined relationship electrical and fluidconductors.

l2 II new PATENTEU nuvao l9?! illll, uunN \\\\\\wwwmV///V////////J%INVENTORS EDWARD KOKALAS EDWARD s. YABLONSKI BY ATTORNEY DUAL ELECTRICALAND FLUIDIC CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention is concerned with coupling devices commonly referred to asquick-connect connectors. More specifically, it is concerned with aconnector assembly that for the first time enables a person to connecttogether a plurality of fluid and electrical conductors in oneoperation.

hlto the present time, control systems have not combined a fluidic andelectrical conductor within the same conduit and/or connector assembly.Perhaps the reason for this was the concern of electrical engineers thatfluid leaking from a fluid conductor would adversely affect theelectrical circuitry. This is especially true at the connecting pointsbetween two fluid conductors where in the past fluidtight seals wereunreliable. Perhaps one of the most common and perplexing shortcomingsof prior art fluid connectors was the lack of sufficiently positivesealing characteristics to provide leaktight seals. Examples of a fluidtype connector assembly may be found in US. Pat. Nos. 3,305,249 to E. J.Zahuranec and 3,453,007 to M. G. Roland. Examples of electricalconnectors of the quick-connect connector are shown in U.S. Pat. No.3,336,569 to J. A. Nava.

A review of presently used commercial and/or military connector assemblyreveals that because of the above problem a connector assembly thatconnects both electric and fluid conductors is not used and is notavailable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A quick-connect connector assembly forconnecting together a plurality of electrical and fluidic conductors.The invention is characterized by the fluidic portion of the connectorassembly which includes a plurality of hollow rigid male members each ofwhich has at least one annular boss thereon with a diameter greater thanthe bores in a resilient insert that receives the hollow male members sothat when the male members are inserted into the resilient insert, acompression seal is formed between the boss on the rigid male membersand the inner wall of the bores in the resilient insert therebyestablishing a fluidtight relationship. Because of this exceptionalfluidtight relationship, the connector assembly may be used to connectboth electric and fluid conductors within the same connector assembly. Amore detailed description of the fluidtight connector assembly may befound in copending application (serial number not received).

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a connectorassembly capable of connecting a plurality of noncommunicatingelectrical and fluidic conductors in a predetermined relationship.

It is another object of this invention to promote the use of bothelectrical and fluid power in control systems.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a fluid couplingthat may be used in any of the existing type electrical connectors.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical and fluidconnector that does not rely primarily upon compressing the transverseend walls of the inserts for a fluidtight seal.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings and claims which form a part of thisspecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of aconnector assembly utilizing the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a connector assembly which connectstogether at least two fluid conductors and at least two electricalconductors in a predetermined relationship.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is an exploded view of aconnector assembly which is comprised of a first assembly 20 and asecond assembly 10. The second assembly 10 comprises a housing 13, aninsert 11, fluid ducts 1, and electrical contacts 50. The insert 11 hasa plurality of bores or passages .12 formed in the insert which arearranged generally axially of the insert. Located in the passages 12 arethe ducts 1 and at least one electrical contact 50. The ducts l aremounted within the insert 11 so that each end of a duct. including atleast one annular boss thereon, extends beyond the insert 11. Thisarrangement allows the ends of each duct 1 to be inserted into a fluidconductor. Similarly, the electrical contacts are also mounted withinthe insert so that each end of the contact 50, extends beyond the insert11. The insert 11 is mounted in the housing 13. The housing 13 includesan external mounting flange apertured to receive fastening members sothat the housing 13 may be mounted on a bulkhead. For the purpose ofconnecting the assembly 10 to another assembly, the housing 13 includesa tubular portion having threads 14 for receiving a threaded couplingdevice 31 and a rear portion having threads for receiving a couplingdevice for attaching a support and/or protective mechanism around theelectrical and fluidic conductors. Located within the housing 13 is aguide or key 17 so that when the first assembly 20 is connected to thesecond assembly 10, the fluid carrying conductors and electricalcontacts of each assembly communicate with each other in a predeterminedrelationship. The first assembly 20 comprises a housing 23, an insert21, ducts 1, and at least one electrical contact 53. The insert 21 iscomprised of a resilient material and has a plurality of bores orpassages 22 formed in the insert arranged generally axially of thehousing in the same manner as the passages 12 in insert 11. Located inat least one of the passages 22 is a duct 1. The duct is mounted in theinsert 21 so that one end of the boss thereon extends beyond the housingfor receiving a fluid conductor 41 and the other end terminates withinthe passage 22 of the in sert 21. Similarly, located in the passages 22is at least one electrical contact 53. The electrical contact 53 ismounted in the insert 21 so that one end of the contact extends beyondthe insert for receiving an electrical conductor 51 and the other endterminates within the passage 22 of the insert 21. The electricalcontact 53 is the female contact that mates with the male contact 50 ofthe second assembly 10 when the assemblies l0 and 20 are in matedrelationship. However, the relationship between which insert carries themale and female portion of the electrical contacts is interchangeableand can be arranged in any manner. The insert 21 is mounted in thehousing 23. The housing 23 includes a tubular portion having threads 26for receiving a threaded coupling device for attaching a support and/orprotective mechanism for the electrical and fluidic conductors 41, 51.The housing 23 has a slot 27 which receives the key 17 when theassemblies 10 and 20 are connected. Once the assemblies 10, 20 areconnected, coupling nut 31 may be used to interlock the assembliestogether. It is not necessary to compress the transversed end walls 19,29 of the inserts 11 and 21 respectively to obtain a fluidtight seal.The fluidtight seal between the assemblies 10, 20 is accomplished by theinitial interconnection between the assemblies i.e., when the ducts 1are inserted into passages 22. Although not shown, the inserts 11, 21have means such as grooves and shoulders for locating the inserts 11, 21in a predetermined location within their respective housings 13, 23. Theinserts 11, 21 are comprised of a resilient material such as rubber,neoprene rubber, nylon, Teflon or any other materials that will permitrepeated compression of the material with a minimum loss of shape.Although both inserts 11, 21 may be comprised of resilient material forinterchangeability, only one of the inserts may be comprised of aresilient material. In that instance, the resilient insert must be partof the housing assembly that receives the extended portion of a duct 1from the other assembly.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a connector assembly whereinassemblies 10, 20 are interconnected with one another to establish fluidcommunication between fluid conductors 41 and electrical communicationbetween electrical conductors 51. The duct 1 in the insert 21 leavessufficient room in the bore 22 to receive that portion of the duct 1,having a boss 3 thereon, which extends from the insert 11. Unlike theelectrical contacts 50, 53, contact between the ducts l of theassemblies 10, 20 is unnecessary. The end portion of the duct I mountedin the insert 11, has a boss 3 thereon which has a diameter greater thanthe diameter of the bore 22, so that when the duct 1 enters the bore 22a compression seal is formed by the boss 3 pressing into the walls ofthe bore 22 in the resilient insert 21. A positive fluidtight seal is,therefore, established in one step by inserting the duct 1 into the bore22. Although only one boss 3 enters bore 22, two bosses may bepreferred. The transverse end walls 19, 29 of the inserts ll, 21 are notrequired to be in pressurized contact to have a fluidtight connectorassembly although by action of the coupling nut 31 which looks theassembly together they may be. Electrical contacts 50, 53 are arrangedin their respective inserts ll, 21 so that they are in electricalcircuit relationship as soon as a fluidtight seal is established betweenthe duct 1 and the insert 21. The electrical contact 53 in insert 2listhe female electrical contact that receives the male contact 50 thatextends from insert 11. Both the electrical contacts 50, 53 and theducts 1 have shoulders 7 that are used to locate the contacts and ductsin a predetermined and fixed position in the inserts 1 1 21.

OPERATION Referring now to the drawings, the assemblies 10, 20 areconnected together in the following manner. To establish connectionsbetween noncommunicating fluid and electrical conductors 41, 51 theassemblies 10, 20 are aligned as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. To cause properorientation of the ducts l and contacts 50, 53, key 17 is inserted intoslot 27 and when the assemblies 10 and are directed towards each other,the forward end portions of the ducts l and electrical contact 50 in theassembly 10 are inserted into the bores 22 of the insert 21. Couplingnut 31 may then be taken up on the mating threads 14 provided on thehousing 13. This action interlocks the two assemblies 10, 20 together.By further tightening of the coupling nut 31, compression between thetransverse end walls 19, 29 of the inserts ll, 21 within the housing 13may be obtained. However, compressing the inserts l1 and 21 is notnecessary to obtain a fluidtight seal and/or electrical connection inthis connection in this connector. This is because the primaryfluidtight seal is formed between the boss 3 on the duct 1 and the innerwall of the bore 22 in the resilient insert 21. When it is desired todisconnect the assemblies 10, 20 a reverse procedure is followed. Thus,this invention makes it possible to connect a multiplicity ofnoncommunicating fluid conductors and electrical conductorssimultaneously without the necessity of reverting to separateconnections. Further, to assure a positive, leaktype seal within theconnector, it is not necessary to rely on the action of a coupling nutto press the transverse walls 19, 29 of the inserts 1 l, 21 together.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made tothe invention as set forth in the appended claims, and, in some cases,certain features of the invention may be used to advantage withoutcorresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is intended thatthe illustrative and descriptive materials employed herein be used toillustrate the principles of the invention and not to limit the scopethereof.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a connector assembly, the combination comprising:

means for connecting at least one electrical conductor in 1 electricalcircuit relationship to another electrical conductor; and

means for connecting at least one fluid conductor in a fluidcommunicating relationship to another fluid conductor which comprises:

an insert, having a plurality of passages;

a duct, disposed in at least one of said passages, said duct having anend portion with a boss thereon which extends beyond said insert, saidboss having a given diameter; and

a resilient insert having a plurality of bores arranged in the samemanner as the passages in said other insert said resilient insert havingat least one bore therein receiving the portion of said duct having theboss thereon, said bore having a diameter less than the diameter of theboss on said duct so that when said duct is inserted into said bore saidboss on said duct is in pressurized contact with the wall of said borewhereby a fluidtight seal is formed therebetween so that the electricalconductors are electrically isolated from the fluid conductors.

2. in combination with an electrical connector of the type having a maleand female member each of which include an insert having a plurality ofpassages of a given diameter and wherein one of said inserts includesmale electrical contact members disposed in the passages of said insertand female electrical contact members disposed in the passages of saidother insert for connecting a plurality of noncommunicating electricalconductors in predetermined circuit relationship, the improvementcomprising:

one of said inserts is comprised of a resilient material; and

at least one duct, said duct disposed in one of the passages of saidother insert, said duct having an end portion with a boss thereon whichextends beyond said insert, the diameter of said boss being greater thanthe diameter of the passage in said resilient insert so that when saidmale and female members are in mated relationship, the boss in said ductis in pressurized contact with the wall of the passage of said resilientinsert to form a fluidtight seal therebetween whereby said connectorconnects in a predetermined relationship electrical and fluidconductors.

3. A connector assembly for connecting at least one fluid conductor toanother and at least one electrical conductor to another whichcomprises:

a first assembly which includes:

an insert comprised of a resilient material and having at least twopassages therethrough, each of said passages having a given diameter;

a duct disposed in at least one of said passages, said duct having anend portion which terminates within the passage in said housing; and

an electrical contact disposed in another passage, said electricalcontact having an end portion which terminates with the passage in saidinsert;

a second assembly which includes:

an insert having at least two passages therethrough arranged in the samemanner as the passages insaid resilient insert;

a duct disposed in at least one of said passages, said duct having anend portion which extends beyond said insert, said end portion having atleast one boss thereon, the diameter of the boss being greater than thediameter of the passage in said resilient insert so that when said ductis inserted into one of said passages in said resilient insert, the bosson the end portion of said second assembly duct is in pressurizedcontact with the wall of the passage in said resilient insert whereby afluidtight seal is formed therebetween; and

an electrical contact disposed in another passage, said contact having amiddle portion and an end portion which extends beyond said insert forinsertion into said passage in said resilient insert having saidelectrical contact so that when said first assembly is in matedrelationship with said second assembly, said electrical contact is incircuit relationship with said other contact whereby said connectorassembly connects electrical and fluid conductors in a predeterminedrelationship.

4. A connector assembly for connecting at least one fluid conductor toanother and at least one electrical conductor to another whichcomprises:

a first assembly which includes:

an insert comprised of a resilient material and having at least twopassages therethrough, each of said passages having a given diameter;and

a-duct disposed in at least one of said passages, said duct having anend portion which terminates within the passage in said insert, and anend portion which extends beyond said insert for receiving a first fluidconductor; 7

An electrical contact disposed in another passage, said electricalcontact having an end portion which terminates within the passage insaid insert, and an end portion which extends beyond said insert forreceiving a first electrical conductor;

A second assembly which includes:

an insert having at least two passages therethrough;

a duct disposed in at least one of said passages, said duct having amiddle portion, an end portion which extends beyond said insert forreceiving a second fluid conduc tor, and another end portion having atleast one boss thereon which extends beyond said insert for insertioninto one of said passages in said resilient insert,,the diameter of theboss being greater than the diameter of the passage in said resilientinsert so that when said first assembly is in mated relationship withsaid second assembly the boss on the end portion of said second assemblyduct is in pressurized contact with the wall of the passages in saidresilient insert whereby a fluidtight seal is formed therebetween; and

an electrical contact disposed in another passage said

1. In a connector assembly, the combination comprising: means forconnecting at least one electrical conductor in electrical circuitrelationship to another electrical conductor; and means for connectingat least one fluid conductor in a fluid communicating relationship toanother fluid conductor which comprises: an insert, having a pluralityof passages; a duct, disposed in at least one of said passages, saidduct having an end portion with a boss thereon which extends beyond saidinsert, said boss having a given diameter; and a resilient insert havinga plurality of bores arranged in the same manner as the passages in saidother insert said resilient insert having at least one bore thereinreceiving the portion of said duct having the boss thereon, said borehaving a diameter less than the diameter of the boss on said duct sothat when said duct is inserted into said bore said boss on said duct isin pressurized contact with the wall of said bore whereby a fluidtightseal is formed therebetween so that the electrical conductors areelectrically isolated from the fluid conductors.
 2. In combination withan electrical connector of the type having a male and female member eachof which include an insert having a plurality of passages of a givendiameter and wherein one of said inserts includes male electricalcontact members disposed in the passages of said insert and femaleelectrical contact members disposed in the passages of said other insertfor connecting a plurality of noncommunicating electrical conductors inpredetermined circuit relationship, the improvement comprising: one ofsaid inserts is comprised of a resilient material; and at least oneduct, said duct disposed in one of the passages of said other insert,said duct having an end portion with a boss thereon which extends beyondsaid insert, the diameter of said boss being greater than the diameterof the passage in said resilient insert so that when said male andfemale members are in mated relationship, the boss in said duct is inpressurized contact with the wall of the passage of said resilientinsert to form a fluidtight seal therebetween whereby said connectorconnects in a predetermined relationship electrical and fluidconductors.
 3. A connector assembly for connecting at least one fluidconductor To another and at least one electrical conductor to anotherwhich comprises: a first assembly which includes: an insert comprised ofa resilient material and having at least two passages therethrough, eachof said passages having a given diameter; a duct disposed in at leastone of said passages, said duct having an end portion which terminateswithin the passage in said housing; and an electrical contact disposedin another passage, said electrical contact having an end portion whichterminates with the passage in said insert; a second assembly whichincludes: an insert having at least two passages therethrough arrangedin the same manner as the passages in said resilient insert; a ductdisposed in at least one of said passages, said duct having an endportion which extends beyond said insert, said end portion having atleast one boss thereon, the diameter of the boss being greater than thediameter of the passage in said resilient insert so that when said ductis inserted into one of said passages in said resilient insert, the bosson the end portion of said second assembly duct is in pressurizedcontact with the wall of the passage in said resilient insert whereby afluidtight seal is formed therebetween; and an electrical contactdisposed in another passage, said contact having a middle portion and anend portion which extends beyond said insert for insertion into saidpassage in said resilient insert having said electrical contact so thatwhen said first assembly is in mated relationship with said secondassembly, said electrical contact is in circuit relationship with saidother contact whereby said connector assembly connects electrical andfluid conductors in a predetermined relationship.
 4. A connectorassembly for connecting at least one fluid conductor to another and atleast one electrical conductor to another which comprises: a firstassembly which includes: an insert comprised of a resilient material andhaving at least two passages therethrough, each of said passages havinga given diameter; and a duct disposed in at least one of said passages,said duct having an end portion which terminates within the passage insaid insert, and an end portion which extends beyond said insert forreceiving a first fluid conductor; An electrical contact disposed inanother passage, said electrical contact having an end portion whichterminates within the passage in said insert, and an end portion whichextends beyond said insert for receiving a first electrical conductor; Asecond assembly which includes: an insert having at least two passagestherethrough; a duct disposed in at least one of said passages, saidduct having a middle portion, an end portion which extends beyond saidinsert for receiving a second fluid conductor, and another end portionhaving at least one boss thereon which extends beyond said insert forinsertion into one of said passages in said resilient insert, thediameter of the boss being greater than the diameter of the passage insaid resilient insert so that when said first assembly is in matedrelationship with said second assembly the boss on the end portion ofsaid second assembly duct is in pressurized contact with the wall of thepassages in said resilient insert whereby a fluidtight seal is formedtherebetween; and an electrical contact disposed in another passage,said contact having a middle portion, an end portion which extendsbeyond said insert for receiving a second electrical conductor, andanother end portion which extends beyond said insert for insertion intosaid passage in said resilient insert so that when said first assemblyis in mated relationship with said second assembly, said electricalcontact is in circuit relationship with said other contact whereby saidconnector assembly connects said first electrical conductor to saidsecond electrical conductor and said first fluid conductor to saidsecond fluid conductor.